Electric switch



May 6, 1924.

I. CALVETE ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed Dec.'2'7, 1919 g g F R ignm. ntor Jiitorncy Patented May 6, 1924.

ISIDQRO CALV'ETE, OF LONDON, ENGLAND.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

Application filed December 27, 1919. Serial No. 347,691.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it lmown that I, ISIDORO CALVETE, a Subject of the King of Spain, residing at 11 Little Saint Andrew Street, London, W. C. 2, England, have invented certain new and useful Electric Switches, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an electric switch adapted to be controlled from a distance and to be operated by means of a local current.

- The invention has for its object to provide a switch of simple construction which is of general application but is specially suitable for use in circuits for electric lighting, bells, signs, small motors and the like.

According to the invention the switch comprises an eleotro-magnet provided with a movable armature which when attracted by the magnet tends to take up a position of unstable equilibrium, means automatically to determine the position taken by the armature when the attraction of the magnet ceases and means in connection with or operated by the armature for closing and breaking a circuit.

A construction of the switch provided according to the invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings in which- (Iiigur'e 1 is an elevation of the switch, an

Figure 2 is a diagram of connections for ap .lication to a lighting circuit.

eferring to the accompanying drawings, the switch consists of an electr'o-magnet 1 with a coil of an adequate resistance for the current with which it is supplied. It has two poles of soft iron 2 and 3 and between them an armature 4 of soft iron is adapted to oscillate about a pivot 5 in such a manner that when the current passes through the coil one of the magnetic poles, for example, north, will be formed in the pole piece 2 and the other, south, at the free end of the armature 4. The latter is of such form that when under attraction by the electro-magnet it is in an unstable position and tends to fall out of the magnetic field by turning about its pivot in one direction of the other.

At the pole piece 3 is fixed by means of two screws 6 and 7 a bracket 8 of non-magnetic metal which has a slot 9 wherein a screw 10, fixed to the armature 4, engages for the purpose of limiting the movement of the armature 4 during oscillation. The armature 4 carries an arm 11 made of innet 1.

Ona screw 21 mounted on the armature 4 is fitted a loose pendant or pawl 20 and on the upper edge of the bracket 8 is formed a rectangular or dove-tailed recess 22.

The switch is connected in the main circuit to be controlled, for example, the circuit of the lamp- L (Figure 2), by means of the terminals 15 and 16. The electromagnet coil is connected through the terminals 17 and 18 in the local circuit of a battery C which is controlled at any desired point or points by push buttons or switches E, F, H and R, any one of which will thus control the main or lamp circuit.

In operation, on the depression of one of the push buttons, the current from the battery C passes through the coil of the electro-magnet 1 and the armature 4 is attracted in the direction of the arrow 23 to the end A of the pole piece 2 but the inertia of the armature carries it further on to the end B; the pendant or pawl 20 falls into the slot 22 thus preventing the armature 4 from returning under the magnetic attraction to the mid-position.

WVhen the push button is released and the current stops, the weight of the armature 4 will carry it to the end of its movement and then the fork 12 will enter the mercury cups 13 and 14.

If the push button is now depressed the current again passes through the coil and the armature 4 is attracted, first of all to the point B and by inertia to the point A and when the current ceases falls back to its original position.

As the fork 12 has the same movement as the armature 4 the circuit connected with the terminals 15 and 16 will be opened or closed according to the movements of the armature.

I claim:

1. An electric switch comprising in combination an electro-magnet, an armature for said electro-magnet, said armature being pivoted at its lower end and adapted to have a free but restricted movement on each side of a centre line in which the pivotal centre lies and in a plane in which a part of one pole of the electro-magnet core extends said armature being disposed parallel with the vertical axis of the electro-Inagnet and hav-- ing means connected therewith for completing an electric circuit in one of its positions, substantially as described.

2. An electric switch comprising in combination an electro-mag'net, an armature for said electro-magnet, said armature being pivoted at its lower end and adapted to have a free but restricted movement on each side of a centre line in which the pivotal centre lies and in a plane in which a part of one pole of the elec-tro-magnet core extends, saidarmature being disposed parallel with the vertical axis of the electro-magnet and having means connected therewith. for completingan electric circuit in one of its positions,

and a pendant pawl carried by the said armature for preventing its premature return into a central position imder the attraction of the electro-magnet, substantially as described.

3. An electric switch comprising in combination an electro-magnet, an armature for said electro-magnet, said armature being pivoted at its lower end and adapted to have a free but restricted movement on each side of a centre line in which the pivotal centre lies and in a plane in which a part of one pole of the electro-magnet core extends, said armature being disposed parallel with the vertical axis of the electro-magnet and having connected therewith a contact making arm for completing an electric circuit in one of the positions of the armature, substantially as described.

ISIDORO' CALVETE. 

